Colorado Springs · Member since 2026 · 10 posts · 3 votes
I’m looking to connect with investors who have experience buying boarded, vacant, or underused commercial buildings in downtown Colorado Springs.
My long-term goal is to revitalize older properties and eventually develop mixed-use, community-focused projects. Right now I’m focused on learning the business and understanding how experienced investors approach these opportunities.
A few questions I’d love to hear your thoughts on:
How did you find your first off-market commercial deal?
What has been your most effective source for finding opportunities: brokers, direct outreach, networking, driving for dollars, or something else?
What mistakes did you make early that you’d warn a beginner about?
If you were starting over in Colorado Springs today, what would you focus on during your first year?
I’d appreciate any advice or lessons learned. If you’re local, I’d also be interested in connecting and learning more about the Colorado Springs commercial real estate community.
In my experience as a Commercial Real Estate Consultant, the 2 most reliable sources I've seen to find vacant or underused commercial buildings are public records for code enforcement / vacant building registries, and relationships with 2 or 3 brokers that work with your specific asset type. Make sure brokers in your submarket specialize in distressed or value-add assets.... they see inventory before it hits LoopNet or CREXI, but keep in mind they usually already have a list of buyers waiting for the right opportunities to acquire those assets. Try to build rapport with them first.
Not in your market, but happy to connect if useful .... I come at this from the underwriting/deal analysis side (multifamily mainly, some mixed-use and retail), so if you ever want a second set of eyes on the numbers once you have a real deal in front of you, feel free to reach out.